During the height of the "Show Trials", Stalin address the Communist Party Congress: "I'm not certain if the German rulers are intelligent enough to realise that, though they can threaten our government, to be serious, not everything depends on them - nor, of course, does everything depend on me."

Stalin emerges from a 14 day self-imposed public isolation following the German invasion to address the Nation: "Brothers and sisters: the German invasion continues. The German Army has taken Lithuania, a large part of Latvia, part of Byelorussia and part of the Ukraine. A great danger hangs over the nation."

Stalin concludes his 7/3/41 address: "To the defeat of the fascist intruders! Death to the German occupiers! Long live our glorious Motherland - its freedom, its independence. Under the banner of Lenin, go forth to victory."